Record-controlled grand piano



Aug. 19 1924.

T. F. CHEEK RECORD CONTROLLED GRAND PIANO 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJuly 13 Aug. 19, 1924. 1,505,374

T. F. CHEEK RECORD CONTROLLED GRAND PIAN() Filed July 13. 1923 3Sheets-Sheet 2 num/nto?,

Aug. 19 1924. 1,505,3 74

T.F.CHEEK RECORD CONTROLLED GRAND PIANO Filed July 13 1923 3SheetshSheet 5 Patented Ang 19, 19,24.,

iran stares PATENT oFFicE.

lSSGNR TO "i/I'ELTE-MIGIION CORPORATION, GQRPRTIQN 0F NEW YORK.

RECGRES-CQEFTTROLLED PIANO.

Application filed July 13, 1923.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, Toni-mur l". 'Cr-rame a citizen of the `lnitedStates residing at New York city, in the county of Bronx and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRecord-Controlled Grand lfianos, of which the following is aspecification.

This :invention relates to grand pianos and particularly to grand pianoshavingv an improved player and expression mechanism arranged within theconfines of the piano casing.

In the manufacture of player grand .f3 pianos and particularlyreproducing grand pianos, it has been recognized as being` desirablewithout increasing the size of the casing to place many, as possible` ofthe parts of the mechanism in the structure in such a way that theirpresence will not be apparent to one in the same room with the piano.

ln carrying out this aim, great di'l'liculty has been experienced inarranging the several parts so that the air conduits between thecomponent parts will be short and direct vithout the use of unsightlyprotulieranc,s,

The primary object of this invention is the provision of improvedconstruction wherein.. without enlarging the piano case, the trackerydriving motor, motor governor, power pneumatics, expression mechanism,reservoir and suction apparatus are so constructed and arranged withinthe confines of the grand piano casing as to avoid the appearance of theinstrument being other than a simple grand piano.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a record controlledgrand piano r) having a tracker box above the key bed at the front ofthe piano and having the drive motor for the music. record arranged atthe side of the tracker box and extending beneath the frame of thepiano,

1 '1 Another and further object of my invention is the provision of arecord cont-rolled grand piano having` its tracker box, wind motor, windgovernor, replay and rewind devices arranged in a unit to be removed miintegrally from the piano.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a record controlledgrand piano having` its striker pneumatic mechanism arranged in a unitwithin the confines of the casing at the rear of the forward portionSerial No. 651,344.

thereof and being slidable into position. from the rear of the forwardportion.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a recordcontrolled grand piano having its striker pneumatics arranged in a unitwithin the confines of the casing and being` removable at the bottom ofthe casing.

A still further 'object of my invention is the provision of a pedaloperating mechanism having the operating pneumatics thereofl fastenedflat against the bottom board of the forward portion of the piano andadjacent the pedal operated levers for controlling the soft andsustaining pedals.

Another and still further object is the provision of a record controlledgrand piano having its striker pneumatic mechanism supported on thepiano frame in the rear of the forward portion of the piano case, theexpression mechanism supported on the frame to the rear of the striker'pneumatic mechanisms and having its source of pneumatic power supportedon the frame and to the rear of the expression mechanism.

Referring to the drawing where I have illustrated an embodiment of myinvention.

Figure l is a cross section of the forward portion of a pianoconstructed accordingv to my invention, i*

Figiire 2 is a front view,

`Figure 3 is a bottom plan view,

TFig. et is a detail view of the drive mecha-- nism for the take up rolland music spool shafts.

Similar reference characters refer to the same parts throughout theseveral views.

designates the key bedvof the instrument, 1l the keys supported on therail l2 and held in position by the pins 13.

Above the keys is a rail 14- which acts as a support and guide for thefall board l5. This fall board is arranged with a front piece 1G whichis pivoted at 17 and is capable of folding up within the cut awayportion i8 on the underside of the main body of the fall board. In orderto perform this folding` operation, the forward end of the board islifted, After the folding operation is complete the fall board ispermitted to return to its horizontal position. The fall board per se isnot a part of the invention and will not be described more in detail.

The rear edge of the fall boa-rd is supported at its ends on guides 19which guide connected to respective treble and bass sec-- tions of thetension chest 53 by the tubes 82 and 83. The expression is control. dthrough expression traclrer ducts which control the amount of tension inthe tubes and 83 and consequently in the treble and bass sections of thechest 63. rllhis in turn determines the pressure in the strikerpneumatics in a well known manner and as described in detail in myaforesaid copending application and in the aforesaid pat-ent to VVelteand Bockisch.

At the rear of the expression mechanism is placed the main reservoir 84and the pump mechanism 85, which together form the source of tension.The expression mechanisms deliver their air, respectively, through thetubes 86 and 87 to the main reservoir Se. The main reservoirconstruction may be of any suitable form as shown in either my copendingapplication No. 592,835 or my copending applicationbld 664,209. pumpingmechanism may be any suitable electrically operated pump havingstructure for silencing devices for silencing the air discharged fromthe pump and also the motor vibrations. The pump is connected to themain reservoir by the tube 8S.

At either side of the frame and inward of the edge as at- 89 and 90 arethe expression valves units which control the operation of theexpression devices 8O and 81.

At 91, I have illustrated the valve box for controlling the pneumaticswhich oper-- ate the soft and sustaining pedal levers. At 92 and 93, lhave shown the sustaining pedal lever and soft lever, respectively.Suitable pneumatics 94- and 95 are arranged adjacent to the respectivelevers 92 and 93 and have respective arms 96 and 97 extending under thelevers 92 and 93 to operate the latter. These pneumatics are placed flatagainst the underside of the piano and consequently may not be seen,except by one bending down and looking up under the edge.

The expression and tension means are entirely above the key bed of thepiano and extend so slightly below the plane of the rear portion of thepiano and are so far inward of the edge thereof that this slightprojection below the plane of the rear is not The visible to one in theroom with tn e piano without bending down and looking there underi Theplacing of the expression control units 89 and 90 at the sides andwithin the casing is a particularly desirable construction. The unit maybe disconnected from its securing means and permitted to hang by itscommunicating tubes while being tested. This accessibility is a greataid in making adjustments and in making repairs in the controlpneumatics.,

lt has been found to be of great advantage to have all of the mechanismfor producing and controlling the tension` in the same plane. sionmechanism, its control valves, the ten-- sion devices and the controlvalves for the so-called pedal mechanisms. This construction facilitatesrepairs and adjustments and so places the parts that they aredistributed in the available space.

The current for the electric motor which drives the air pump in thetension unit is controlled by a switch 100 having a springs,v heldswitch handle 191 extending into the tracker box. ifi. stop pneumatic 1carries.. on its movable member, a detent 103 which releases the switchhandle 101 to open the switch when thc pneumatic 102 collapsed.

Referring to Figure 2, the motor 2li, the tracker box 29 with thedriving mechanism for the shafts, the replay and rewind pneumatics 53,-l, the stop pneumatic 102, the motor governor 57 and the junction boxes59, are all embodied as a unit and by removingK the fronts of thejunction boxes. and releasing the securing means, the unit may beremoved, as a whole, from the piano.

ln order 'to remove the pneumatics G2 and the chest G8 as a unit, thescrews G5 niav be removed. 'lie whole unit may then be removed from therear and replaced after any desired repair or adjustment is made. lffound to be desirable, the screws (35 may be permitted to remain inplace and the supporting board (30 and unit removed bv the removal ofthe screws 105 shown in .lf-ligure The unit in this case would beremoved through the bottom of the piano.

lllhile l have described an embodimeiit` of my invention in detail., ldesire to have it understood that l do not limit myself to the exactshowin and that modifications and changes may be made without denariingfrom the spirit of my inventiouland within the scope of the appendedclaims.

llaving described rrj invention, what l claim is y l. It recordcontrolled grand piano having a casing, a lreybed, keys, a piano actiona striker pneumatic action unit at the rear of the lreys and in positionto operate on the piano action, the unitn being` above the bottom of thelnybed and removable as a. unit 2, `record controllergrand piano havacasingq a leybed. ys, a piano action, a strilrzer pneumatic action unitat the rear of the lreys an.,n in position to operate on the pianoaction. the unit being above the bottom of the lreybed, the piano havingan opening for insertion and removal of the unit.

3. il; record controlled grand piano havcasing, l'eybed, leys, a pianoaction, a striker pneumatic action unit at the rear of the keys and inposition to operate on This includes the expresllt? LILO

the piano actioin the unit being above the bottom of the ieybed, thepiano having an opening in the bottom thereoi'.l tor insertion andremovai of the unit.

i. i record controlled grand piano com-- prisinp' a piano action having`a wippen, a iteybed, a hej-yY mmnited on the iteybeehmeans mounted onthe rear ot the key for operating' the wippen, a pneumatif` above theleve? of the bottom of the iteybed, means if'or carrying the pneumatic,an abutment operated by the pneumatic and in position to operate amovabie portion oi' the piano action, means 'for securing' the pneumaticca' jing means in place, he ireybed having; its rearward edge forward orthe pneumatic carryinilj means the piano having an opening whereby thepneumatic and its carrying means may be removed through the bottoni oitthe piano upon loosening the securing; means,

5, record controiied grand piano coinprising a piano action havingwippens, a keybed, keys mounted on the iteybed, means mounted on therear oit the keys 'tor operating the wippens a pneumatic unitcomprising` pneuniatics having a rigid mounting? relative t@ each other,the unit, inciuding the pneuinatics, being` above the bottom oi thekeybed, the unit having' inovabie abut ments operated by 'thepneuinatics and in position to opera-te n'iovabie portions of the pianoaction, means for secur theunit in piace, 'the rearward edge o'" theiteybed be ingv forward ot the greater portion o'i the pneumatic unit7the piano having' an opening' through which the unit may be removedthrough the bottom ot the piano upon loos ening the securingY means.

6. A record controlled grand piano conr prising` a piano action havingwippens7 a iieybed, keys mounted on the keybed, means mounted on therear of the keys vtor operating the wippens, a pneumatic unitcomprising` pneumatics having a rigid mount-ing relative to each other,the unit, including' the pneumaticsj being' above the bottom oit theireybed, the unit having movable abutments operated by the pneumaticsand 'in position t@ operate iiovabie portions ot the piano action, meansfor securing?,- the unit in piace, the rearward ot the itoybed be ing'forward ot the greater portion ot the pneumatic unit, the piano havingan openingg` for the insertion and remo vai or the unitindependent ofthe other mechanism.

7.2i record controiied grand piano comprising` a piano action havingwiopens, a ireybed, keys mounted on the keybed, means mounted on therear of the keys for operating the wippens, a pneumatic unit comprisingpneumatica havinga rigid mounting reiative to each other7 the unit.,including' the pneumatics, being` above the bottom of the iieybed, theunit having movable abutment-s operated by the pneumatics and in oit thepiano traine.) tahonp roti and music spool shai'rs mounted iu thetracker box. :i driving' motor within the casini.; and tor op-v erati cjthe shafts7 :i portion oi the motor bein underneath the piano iframe.

9. i record conti-oiled grand piano coin-- prisingg', a traine, a pianoaciioiu a tracker bei; mounted within the casingl and 'torward of thepiano trame, taiteaip roii and music spooi shafts mounted in the'attirer box, a drivingv motor within the casingv and for operating' theshafts, a portion of the motor extending to the rear ot the forward partoit the me, the remainder oit the motor beine' forward thereof.

i0, u record controiied grand piano comprision', a trame, a pianoaction, a tracker hf "i mounted within the easing' and forward ot thepiano trame, taire-up roii and music spooi shafts mounted in the trackerbox7 a drivingv motor iter the shafts. the motor coniprieinir apiuraiitv of power pneuniatics arranged a substainiai anpjuhir distance'troni :i verticai pianer` a portion ot the motor heiiur underneath thetraine, ot the piano record eontroiied piaf-o voui 'a piano action, a trigor bott mounted un the casing and forward oi the traine, a windgovernor at i i he tracker box, taireaip roii auf mourned inithetraifier hon a wind motor eoni'ieeaod to the n'fiverniiir and inoperative driving' conneftion with the Siia't'ti-n the wind motor havinga portion er-tendiugr iin/ieuA neath the piano traine.

i2. in a record coutroiied Fand piano hai'- ing' a casing; and aiievbed, the com iiuation oi'y keys mounted or the ielvbed, y. piano aition operativeiY niected to thtI "vs, :i

pneu'i'rfitic action oli-- to the p .fontroiiinopre; ion nu in thcstriker pun ttor suipijiingr th, i i i i, Y J niaced ano secured ai ivethe bottoni of tue A eed ot the piano.

in a record cont having' a casing l au ou roiied item74- liaving scasing, ai keybed, keys, s pinne nction and i striker pneumaticmechanism toi operating the pieno action, the combination or' a` Windcontrol expression dei'iee e tension reservoir and tension producing` iineens for securing` the expression ei reservoir end tension producing`means in place above the loottoin ot the keybed, to 'the rear thereofand Within the :.onlines ot the pieno casing.

l5. i record controlled grand piani/n hevine i elsing7 s keyloed, keys,ai piano nation :i striker pneumatic action unit et the reni* of thekeys and in position to operate on the piano action, the unit beingarbore the bottoin of the keybed, en expression dei/ico sind e Windtension producing device .'feiiiii'zird of the pneumatic ection unitgthe expression de Vice and tension device being' it su stiiiitinlly theseine level.

1G. L record controlled grand ing a casing, e keybed, keys ni pienoaction, zi striker pneumatic notion unit it the reni" of the lceys andin position to operate on the piano action, the unit being eGov-e thebottom of the lief/bedy e Wind con'roi c pr g, sion device adjacent toand 'io the rear oil'V the pneumatic unit and being coi'inected 'theretoand o, tension producing;v device adjecent to ond connected to theLpressiou device.

1T. i record controlled grand pieno limY- ing a casing;y e keybed, keys,s pieno action e striker pneumatic action unit :it the rear of the keysand in position to operate on sieno he in Vthe pieno action, the unitlie'iig above the bottom oit' the keybed, the uiiit haring n piui'niityot chests therein, i i expression device connecter to each chest endudine-ent the rezir thcreoii', and :i tension producing device tothe-rear oi the expression de vices sind connected to both expressionde- Yvices` the f .'essioii devices and the tension dei'icebeirgsubssnntiully et the seine level. llt-. fi record controlled grandpiano hsv'- keybedj keysq s pieno fiction ti." notion unit in positionto info actionl the unit heilig the keyliedj wind cou- .leent 'to nud t(iiiiit :ind bei' .4 i i tension producing cent 'to zuid connected to theexl operate on t :above the lio trol the expression f; reir oi the cordcontrolled grand pieno hav` ingv e. @rising7 n keylied7 keys zi pianonotion. n` striker piieuiiizitic ziet-ion unit in position to operaie outhe pieno action, the unit loe- :filove the bottom of the koylied, theunit haring ii pluruiitjy of chests i' ereinj zi WimI conti-o expressiondevice connected to encl-l ohest en( adjacent the reni? tioreo'f, :ind ntension producing' device to the rear of the expression d 'ices l bothnud connecteo` to expression devices.. the expression novices eno hetension device `being substantially et thr-r m i, sini Lew el.

CHEVK.

